When bad things happen to God’s people – Part 1

-          Paul’s letter is the instruction on the theme of comfort in trouble

-          We have to understand what it meant to Paul and why he wrote it.

o   There were some false teachers that had come into Corinth and they had infiltrated the church.

o   In order to find an entrance and to gain an audience, the first thing they needed to do was remove Paul

·       II Corinthians 12:7

-          Paul had spent eighteen months in the city of Corinth and planted the church

-          He was told there was immorality in the church and it wasn’t being dealt with

-          He writes them a letter on how to deal with immorality it in the church (not inspired by Holy Spirit).

·       I Corinthians 5:9-13

·       I Corinthians 1:11; 16:12; 7:1

-          He sent Timothy to check on them, and he was compelled by the Spirit of God to write another letter. This letter is I Corinthians. This was an inspired letter.

-          But things are getting worse, not better. So, Paul left Ephesus and went to Corinth himself.

·       II Corinthians 2:1

-          After making the visit he wrote a third letter, “severe letter” (not inspired).

·       II Corinthians 2:4-9

·       II Corinthians 7:5-8

·       II Corinthians 12:18; 2:12; 5-9

-          After having heard from Titus, apostle Paul writes II Corinthians (inspired).

1)      Blessed be God (vs. 3a)

-          It starts with praise, affirmation that God is to be well-spoken of.

o   Hebrews 1:1-3

o   John 1:18, 14:9

2)      The Father of Mercies (vs. 3b)

-          This is the language of one who cried out for tender mercy and pity from God.

o   Lamentation 3:22

o   Psalm 103:13-14, 17

3)      The God of all Comfort (vs. 3c)

-          He’s not saying, “God came to me and gave me a cushy life.” He’s saying, “God came to me in the middle of my trouble and gave me strength.

o   Isaiah 40:1-2